Yet, this influence does herald the total transformation of human consciousness.

Therefore, the first Winter Solstice after the real ending of the Calendar a few months ago cannot be underestimated; it has the potency to further open unity consciousness.

Since the ending of the Calendar on October 28, significant breakdowns of male domination are visible. For example, the exposure of abusive football coaches; American troops finally leaving Iraq; and the pressure to get the final troops out of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Since it is so difficult to imagine our world turning positive, I've been using astrology as a tool for ideas about how such a shift might occur.

The reading for the Sagittarius (Sag) New Moon noted that the wild December 10 Gemini lunar eclipse (the fulfillment of the Sag New Moon) would be intense because Uranus went direct at 0 Aries.

This combination seems to have shredded patriarchal financial resistance to supporting fairness with money because the Euro nations were forced to come to an agreement based on greater sharing.

In the reading for the New Moon in Sag, which featured a wonderful grand trine in the earth element - Mars in Virgo trine Pluto in Capricorn trine Jupiter in Taurus - I noted that, "It (the grand trine) suggests that the world financial structures will not collapse totally because unexpected levels of support arrive that ease the transition into more fairness and equality."

Of course when I wrote that analysis, I could not imagine what those unexpected levels of support might be; thus I was stunned when a few days later-the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, and the banks of England, China, Japan, and Canada all cut the cost for banks borrowing dollars from their own central banks until February 2013!

No one ever imagined that big banks could or would make a move that could create greater equality and fairness in the world; this was an astonishing example of the power of the incoming unity consciousness as well as the influence of the grand trine in earth.

But, as I also explained in the previous reading, what would be going on could not be understood until we could see what would happen during the December 10 Gemini Full Moon.

That total lunar eclipse had the power to trigger a "huge reality shift when the world realizes that the huge changes already in gear cannot be stopped."

The fundamental problem with banks is excessive greed and the creation of unknown levels of debt, yet during and after Uranus direct and the December 10 eclipse, a cascade of banking collapses has not occurred nor probably will!

The problems still exist in toto, but many people in power seem to be struggling to equalize the debt, which is a good sign of strong unity consciousness.

As we approach the Winter Solstice, we are in the middle of very tense and uncertain times and the financial problems continue to unravel day after day.

The Capricorn New Moon that follows only two days later is loaded with information about how to personally handle our issues.

For now, our need approaching the Solstice is to move into the deepest states of contemplation and to allow the highest wisdom to come into our minds.

There is really no reason to worry; after all, it is only money -- just another form of energy that is being reorganized. And, unless this balancing begins to occur, more and more people can see that our species is doomed to eternal war and male domination -- the path of the 1%.

I will read the 2011 Winter Solstice seeking guidance for spiritual access, and then will look at how we can each play our own part during the Capricorn New Moon, which follows two days later.

This year's Winter Solstice chart has almost all the planets situated in deep resonance with each other, and intriguingly, the god of war, Mars, is not part of this harmonic dance.

Mars has no aspects to the other luminaries, so he looms like a Watcher in the sky hoping the shift can liberate him to be mostly a god of personal power instead of merely the god of war.

Ironically, it is our job to make that happen, and as the troops left Iraq December 16, we witnessed a sign of the coming times. At the Solstice, the Sun moves into Capricorn close to the Galactic Center and conjuncts Pluto; trines Jupiter in Taurus; squares newly direct Uranus in Aries; sextiles Chiron/Neptune; and sextiles Saturn. Expressed simply, the Solstice Sun is deepened by the presence of Pluto and both are resonated by wise and grounded Jupiter in Taurus.

Also, the Sun squaring Uranus in Aries will further erode male-dominant control by creating crazy surprises that show it's not working anymore; this aspect will continue throughout the winter months.

The sextiles to the Sun from Chiron, Neptune, and Saturn encourage us to adopt deep ways of wisdom and healing instead of frittering away our resources and creativity. These aspects are all very close, so their intermingling patterns tell a story of remarkable change that is opening space for new patterns.

Our world is like a re-tooled factory that is ready to spit our new models. These aspects to the Solstice Sun are game changers that allow each one of us to look at the world in entirely new ways.

Speaking of looking at the world in an entirely new way, my latest book -- Awakening the Planetary Mind: Beyond the Trauma of the Past to a New Era of Creativity -- was just released to assist in this process; its timing could not have been more fortunate!

Since all the luminaries but one (Mars) are in close resonance with the Solstice Sun, all I can do is study each planet and look at all the aspects to it from its own unique perspective.

The configuration that stands out the most is a T-square composed of Saturn in 28 Libra opposite Jupiter in 1 Taurus forming squares to Venus in 2 Aquarius. This T-square is a directive configuration that can activate the planetary resonations with the Solstice Sun, so let's read it.

Saturn in late Libra is finishing his quest for justice, fairness, and harmony that continues until early October 2012, since Saturn retrogrades at 29 Libra in February 2012. Thus we are midway through this process.

With the opposition from Jupiter in 0 Taurus, which goes direct a day after the December 24 New Moon, we have the mythic Titans fighting for dominance in the heavens with the goddess Venus directing the script.

Potent stationary Jupiter brings stability to Saturn in Libra and almost taunts him to accomplish his quest-universal fairness for all beings. Then the of the great struggle releases its force through the tight T-square to Venus newly arrived in Aquarius-whose quest is liberation of the feminine.

This wonderful and evocative T-square could create the most marvelous pillow talk and exposure of hidden loves that we've seen in a long time!

In this environment, all presidential candidates and various new world leaders may regret past dalliances that helped them personally handle all the power and attention. Remember, this influence holds until the Spring Equinox!

In light of this fascinating potential, let's see how we may be feeling by examining the Moon in 26 Scorpio during the Winter Solstice.

The Moon in Scorpio squares Chiron/Neptune, trines Uranus in Aries, and sextiles Venus in Aquarius. So, as Venus pursues her liberation, the Moon in Scorpio operates from the Underworld and exposes many truths about male-dominant tricks. Chiron/Neptune squares the Moon and activates the healing potential of Scorpio's intensity, while the trine from Uranus frees the Moon to have a good time.

As you can imagine, this deep Moon being allowed her freedom could create some surprises, and you may find that your emotional life is very deep and healing this winter. Venus at the head of the T-square is also sextiled by Uranus in Aries, which eliminates any possibility she will be tamed.

Mercury is in 8 Sagittarius, so his aspects to all of these other patterns are not as close, but he still resonates with all of them. He is also near the North Node in Sagittarius, which is causing all of us to focus on liberation and action. As the planet of the mind, Mercury has access to all the resonation and he will be moving quickly.

This chart is like an I-Pad with lots of Apps, so you will be rolling things around in your world and it should be fun this winter. The chart is so active that it is difficult to imagine being contemplative, but you must.

When the water and waves are rising, we need to make it to shore or get in a boat. This winter, most of our focus on keeping afloat will be financial, but it won't feel so bad because so many people are in the same vessel.

My reading for the New Moon follows shortly, with personal advice on how to navigate these difficult challenges.

Have a lovely Winter Solstice and enjoy contemplation -- rather than all the commercial distractions of Christmas!